The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-28
CHIPETA's DOWNFALL.


Once a Queen of the Utes-Now q Squaw
with CoIorow's Band.
Denver Republican.
Among the sduaws accompanying Colorow in
his peripatetic ourneys about the White-river
country is Chipeta, the wife of the lamented
Onray the late head-chief of the Ute nation.
The career OF this woman is beyond anything
vet written; even Fenimore Cooper, in bis
description OF the romance OF aboriginal life.
falls far short of anything like it in his charac-
ter sketches.
Chipeta became best known to the people of
this country during the exciting period leading
up to and following the MeekeE massacre The
details of that affair are yet fresh in the pubic
mind, so fresh, indeed, as to justify IN the minds
of some people the present military activity in
the minds of those only too well acquainted with
the treachery of the Ute character. The Utes,
prior to TWEEN ty years ago. were unknown out
side the Washington Ethnologica. Bureau
They lived in the Rocky mountains, as they had
lived for centuries, and Of all the tribes that
roamed in nomadic freedom throughout the
West they had preserved the purity of their ira
ditions; their costume and mode Of living were
the same had been in vogue in the beginning
and their mode of government republican In form,
was similar in practice TO that of centuries ago,
before a republic in this country was ever
dreamed of.
In conformity with the long established Gus
tom the nation was on the eve OF the election or
head chief There were number Of candi-
dates and among them was Ouray, who was
supported by the government against the claims
of Ignacio, who had the suffrages of the
party. Ouray was for peace and on this plat
form he elected. I ne contest excited q
great deal of interest throughout the country,
especially at Washington.
Following Ourays election to the craftsmanship
the first official act he called upon to
slider the ACCESSIBILITY of a removal OF his
tribe from the mou tains of Colorado to Utah,
and in connection with proposed treaty be-
tween the United States and the Ute nation
he summoned to Washington.
On his trip he was accompanied
by his wife. Both he and Chipeta
had in a adopted the dress of civilized
life. They owned their own ranch, their herds
fed upon their own pastures and in essentials
lived a white people and enjoyed the comforts
of civilized life. These facts preceded the chief
and his consort to Washington and with all the
romance of their wild mountain life clingine
about them. added to the heritage of an ancient
and warlike lineage. they were received with
open arms by the high social circles OF the CAD
ital city. Everywhere they were feted and the
doors of the mansions in the West End swung
inward at their approach.
Chpeta was idollzed She was clothed in
silks; her raiment was the fancy OF the best
Eastern dress makers, and the tawdy fnery
associated with life of savagery conspcu-
ous by it's absence The illustrated journals
took the and the wife of Ouray became
libeiled throughout the breadth of the land by
cage for the season she was in Washington, and
the epistolary correspondence from attaches Of
the English legation TO the court journals at
London referred to her as a Mountain Prin-
cess" and bespoke for her a hearty reception
rom the peerags of England should she visit
that country. which she at that time actually
contemplated. As souvenirs of her visit
Washington Chipeta carried away with her
quantities of silver plate. a portion of which was
presented to her bv the government through
the Interior Department.
Shortly WASHINGTON a
contamination of the treaty Ouray died. He
was sincerely mourned by his people and as
indication of their grief ard in conformity with
ong-estabshed custom, the horses of the dead
man led up to the grave and by one
shot All that was valuable in earthly existence
was to accompany him to the happy hunting
ground of his racial but Chpeta; and she, too
would probably have accompanied her liege lord
bad she lived a couple of centuries ago. AS it
was, the custom of her tribe, by the greatness
Of her exalted position, condemned her to a life
OF perpetual widowhood. Any deviation from
this un wrtten law would draw down upon her
head the maledictlon OF the entire nation and she
would become outcast, pariah among her
people. But Chepita had will of her own She
ad tasted of the privileges which her Caucasian
sisterhood enjoyed, and when the opportunity
secured to marry Tu muchigutti q handsome
buck. she did So not stopping to consider the
great fall thereby in the social SCALE As might
have been expected, the bead men of the nation,
with unanimity and decision, condemned both
she and her husband to ostracism. They had
both violated sacred law of social government
she turned her back upon civilized life in every
form Her silks and satns were discarded and |
sven her plate was melted down to make gew-
yaws for her husbands friends Her stock
saken from her and reverse followed reverse till
she was absolutely forced beyond the line of
tribal kinshp and she with her husband be- |
came a wanderer.
This doubtless was hurried by the unfortunate |
mistake which she had made in locating a |
ranch OF the new reservation. It was an excel |
lent site. There was plenty of water, and buff |
4al
ment TO the stock When the lines were mada |
dividing Utah from Colorado it was found that |
line, and not in the reservation 1t became. |
legitimate plumber for the settlers, |
who lost no time in dividing the spoil.
r. Like the renegade of her tribe Chipeta in her |
tended to the White river country. |
There at least she would be welcomed and some |
respect paid to her fallen greatness She and |
him envroned by the military forces which the
Governor has despatched for the protection of |
the settlers in Garfield county
Telegraphic Advices say that some apprehen-
sion is felt for Chipeta's safety She in one |
of the tents which was fred by Sheriff Ken
dalrs party on their first visit to the Indian
camp, and she has not been seen since. It is
not at all likely that she has been harmed she |
has been compelled to practically take to the
bushes. What must be her thoughts2 When
the wife of 1.-The white mans friend" she aided
him in his endeavors TO prevent depredations
the whites by the fiery young bucks whom ira
dition had taught to hate white men. Now she
is hunted like wolf by tho palefaces whom she
DDce reckoned friends
Chipeta is gowing old. She must be in the
neigh borhood of fifty. Colorow once her
euemy, as he was the enemy of the peace loving
her she sought straits in life where she could
and friends. Ii is not now believed that she
sntertains warike spirit towards the whites,
but, being with Colorow, she is in bad company.
Once the Queen of the nation she is now lead
Dg the life of q common sqraw.